Vending and display case



1 2 1,614,363 Jan u 9 7 o. N. HlcKs VENDING AND DISPLAY CASE Filed sept. 12, 1924 s sheets-sheet 1 am /MMJ wmf WITNESS:

. 1,614,363 Jam 11 1927' o. N. HICKS VENDING AND DISPLAY CASE Filed Sept. 12. 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Figa WITNESS: ATTORNEY Jan. 11, 1927.

O. N. HICKS VENDING AND DISPLAY CASE Filed Sept. 12, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR ATTORNEY WITNESS:

Patented Jan. 1l, 1927.

yUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OTTO N. HICKS, 0F FILIMORE, INDIANA.

VENDING AND DISPLAY CASE.

Application filed September 12, 1924. Serial No. 737,404.

This invention relates to a vendin device, the general object of the invention eing to provide means for discharging articlesfrom a display case forming part of the device by the manipulation of a certain lever so that a clerk can deliver to a customer the desired article from the case Without handling the same and without touching the other articles in the case.

Another object of the invention is to provide a normally closed gate for the display case with means for opening the same when a lever is depressed.

A further ob 'ect of the invention is to provide an alarm which will b e sounded when a lever` is depressed.

This invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in` the combination and arrangement of the several parts, to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and specically pointed out in the appended claim.

In describing my invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which Figure 1 is a front view of the device.

Figure 2 is a side view thereof. Figure 3 is a plan view with parts broken away. l

Figure 4 is a bottom plan view of the device.

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view with the parts in closed position.

Figure 6 is a similar view with the parts in a position for discharging an article.

In these views, 1 indicates a housing which is adapted to be placed on a counter or other support and to which is attached a display case 2, portions of this display case being formed of transparent material, as shown at 3. Rods 4 are arranged in pairs in said case and form partitions for dividing the same into a plurality of compartments, each compartment being designed to receive the articles to be vended, such articles being shown in dotted lines at A. The articles may be introduced into the case in any suitable manner. The rear lower part of the case is in communication with the interior of the housing 1 so that any one of a plurality of plungers 5 may have their forward ends enter the lower part of the case to shove an article therefrom through the of portion opening-G'which is normally closed b a gate 7. The plungers 5 are guided in t eir reciprocatory movements by the rods 8 which are supported by the cross pieces 9 in the housing. A spring 10 connects a part of each plunger with one of the cross pieces 9` and ten-ds to hold the same in its retracted position. A plurality of hand levers l1 are pivotally supported in the housing by means of the rod 12,- these levers being of bell crank shape and extending through slots 14 formed in the housing. The outer end of each lever is provided with a finger engaging part l5 and the inner end of each lever is connected with a plunger by the links 16 so that when a lever is depressed the plunger will be projected so that its forward end will enter the casing 2 and engage the lowermost article therein and force it through the opening 6. A frame 17 is pivoted in the housin 1 and this frame is adapted to be rocke by having a part thereof engaged by a beveled edge 18 o a plunger when the plunger is projected so that the gate 7 will be raised to uncover the opening 6 as said gate is connected with the frame 17 by means of the rods 19 which are hingedly connected with the frame 17, as shown at 20. As the frame is actuated bya plunger a part thereof will strike the hammer 21 of a bell 22 so as to ring the bell. and thus give warning that an article is being expelled from the case.

From the foregoing it will be seen that after a customer has indicated the article he desires to purchase, the articles being in full view through the transparent part of the case, the clerk will manipulate the proper lever so that the plunger to which the lever is connected will be projected to rock the frame 17 to open the gate 7 and then the forward part of the plunger will engage the lowermost article of the stack of articles which the customer wishes and expel the saine from the case. Thus the articles are kept in a dust proof case and they are not vhandled by the clerk or customer. As soon as the lever is released the spring 10 will return the parts to normal and closed position.

It is thought from the foregoing description that the advantages and novel features ofl my invention will be readily apparent.

I desire it to be understood that I may make changes in the construction and in the llt) combination and arrangement `of the several parts, provi-ded that such changes fall within the scope of the appended claim.

Vhat I claim is y A vending machine comprising a housing, a. display case having transparent walls supported by thev housing, said display case having an outlet opening in its lower end, a gate for closing the openingga frame pivoted in the housing, rods connecting the frame with the gate, a plurality of guide rods horizontally arranged in the housing, a plunger slidably supported by each pair of rods, each plunger having a part for engaging the frame to tilt the same when the plunger is projected, s rings for holdin the plungers in reti-acte position and and levers pivotally supporting the housing and each connected with the plunger for project# ing the plunger when the lever is depressed, each plunger having a part for entering the display case when the plunger is projected 4to force an article through the outlet opening therein.

In testimony whereof Iaix my sig-nature. l

OTTO N. HICKS. 

